Comparison

Prevention vs AARP Staying Sharp

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Prevention

Access expert advice, fresh ideas, and health secrets to live a healthier, fitter, and stronger life. Get the latest health research delivered to you, with options for free previews and social sharing.

Highlights
  • Expert health advice
  • Latest health research
  • Fresh health ideas
  • Social sharing of content
  • Timed issue previews
  • Subscription options
Features
Read full description

Prevention is the ultimate live-better handbook. It’s the trusted go-to guide to feeling your best, head to toe, inside and out through trustworthy expert advice, fresh ideas, and health secrets. We bring the latest health research to real life, so you can be healthier, fitter, and stronger. SUBSCRIBE NOW AND GET YOUR FIRST ISSUE FREE! Don't forget, you can also get free access to issues with a timed preview (on your iPhone, too!). Plus, share app content with your favorite social networks. Using a simple two-finger tap, actual images of the content itself are “clipped” and can be sent directly to Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, or Pinterest, or via email or saved to your photo roll. Download our free app today! Select the issue you'd like to purchase, or sign up with a subscription and save! Please note that you must have iOS 10.0 or higher installed on your device to use this app. Prevention Pricing: • Subscription 1 Month - USD 2.99* • Subscription 1 Year - USD 24.99* * For non-US app stores, the equivalent currency charges will apply. Please note: App subscriptions do not include access to subscription-only content on our website. Additional Subscription Information: • Payment will be charged to iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase. • Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period. • Account will be charged for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period, and identify the cost of the renewal. • Subscriptions may be managed by the user and auto-renewal may be turned off by going to the user's Account Settings after purchase. • No cancellation of the current subscription is allowed during active subscription period. Privacy Policy - https://bit.ly/2J5Ujfh Terms of Use - https://bit.ly/2J1YZqL • Any unused portion of a free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited when the user purchases a subscription to that publication, where applicable.

About

AARP Staying Sharp

This app offers science-based challenges and expert advice to improve brain health, focusing on memory, focus, and digital well-being. It provides interactive tools and exercises to help users build lasting, brain-healthy habits.

Highlights
  • Science-based brain health challenges
  • Expert advice on memory and focus
  • Digital decluttering strategies
  • Interactive tools and exercises
  • Progress saving across devices
  • Earn AARP Rewards points
Features
Read full description

Need to learn a variety of healthy-lifestyle skills? The AARP™ Staying Sharp® app is based on a holistic, lifestyle-based approach to brain health and features expert advice on memory, focus and more. Are you sometimes irritated by little memory slips like forgetting where you placed your keys or phone? In our “Memory Loss – Is it Inevitable?” challenge, you can learn how memory works. In addition, our Digital Declutter challenge teaches you ways to manage your digital world. Discover strategies for shifting technology away from being a distracting force in your life and into something that helps you live life more fully. And if you’re tired of forgetting details about new people you meet, our Faces & Names challenge can help you learn the secrets of those impressive people who never forget a name. Here’s what the app lets you do: Take challenges that are designed to help you learn about the brain and its ongoing health, including tips to incorporate healthy habits into your daily life. Take Staying Sharp challenges on the go. Your progress will be saved, no matter where you start or stop your challenge. And that works on a smartphone, computer or tablet. Who can use the app? Anyone can download and preview the Staying Sharp® app. AARP members and other authorized users have access to it. Plus, there’s more. Access includes the following: * Take the challenges to earn AARP Rewards points*. This loyalty program lets you gain points for participating in activities, including eligible Staying Sharp challenges. * Take advantage of easy access to the AARP Now app. This app lets users tap into news, events and savings, plus earn AARP Rewards points. *Unused AARP Rewards points expire 12 months after they are earned, in monthly batches on a rolling basis. About Staying Sharp and AARP Staying Sharp is an AARP program that shows you how to incorporate the six pillars of brain health into your life. Staying Sharp empowers you to develop meaningful and lasting brain-healthy practices that are based on these pillars: Be social, Eat right, Manage stress, do Ongoing exercise, get Restorative sleep and Engage your brain. The program has received industry recognition in multiple national competitions — including the Digital Health Awards and eHealthcare Awards — earning accolades for videos, interactive content and site design. AARP is the nation’s largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering people 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With a nationwide presence, AARP strengthens communities and advocates for what matters most to the more than 100 million Americans 50-plus and their families: health security, financial stability and personal fulfillment. AARP also produces the nation’s largest circulation publications: AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin. Terms of Service: https://stayingsharp.aarp.org/about/terms-of-service/ Privacy Policy: https://www.aarp.org/privacy/privacy-policy/

Screenshots

Prevention4 screens
AARP Staying Sharp4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Prevention at none against AARP Staying Sharp's shown. On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Prevention sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and AARP Staying Sharp sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $20.00 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for Prevention against 4.7 for AARP Staying Sharp. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1.4K and 3K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 47% of Prevention's written reviews are positive against 52% of AARP Staying Sharp's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Prevention ships an update every 2 months, AARP Staying Sharp every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 2, 2026 and October 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
Prevention versus AARP Staying Sharp: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPreventionAARP Staying Sharp
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (1.4K ratings)4.7 (3K ratings) — better
Positive reviews47.1% of reviews52.4% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1.4K3K — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 5 weeks — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS15.615.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size60 MB76 MB
Age rating17+17+
DeveloperHearst Communications, Inc.AARP

Customer experience

Prevention

All ratings1,350 ratings
Positive91.5%
Neutral1.9%
Negative6.6%
Written reviews102 reviews
Positive47.1%
Neutral1.0%
Negative52.0%

AARP Staying Sharp

All ratings2,705 ratings
Positive93.5%
Neutral4.3%
Negative2.2%
Written reviews42 reviews
Positive52.4%
Neutral4.8%
Negative42.9%

User reviews

Prevention

From 1.4K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 📚 Informative and helpful content
  • 💻 Convenient digital access
  • 📱 Easy to use app
  • 🌟 Enjoyable reading experience

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
  • 🔒 Difficulty accessing content
  • 💰 Expensive subscription
  • 🔍 Poor customer support

AARP Staying Sharp

From 3K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Helpful and practical exercises
  • 🧠 Effective for improving mental sharpness
  • 🎮 Fun and engaging games
  • 🔍 Useful for monitoring brain health
  • 💡 Recommended by healthcare professionals

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Recurring login issues
  • 🚫 Limited game selection
  • 🔁 Endless login loops
  • 🤯 Confusing user experience
  • 🚫 Inaccessible games

Bugs and requests

Prevention

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Unable to download or access issues
  • App freezes or becomes unresponsive
  • Subscription issues and billing problems
  • Compatibility problems with newer iOS versions

Requested features

4 requests
  • Bookmark feature to save progress
  • Offline reading mode
  • Ability to access past issues
  • Improved navigation and search

AARP Staying Sharp

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Games not launching properly
  • App freezing or crashing
  • Inability to access core features

Requested features

4 requests
  • Expand game library
  • Improve login and navigation experience
  • Add more accessibility features
  • Provide clearer instructions and guidance

In-app purchases

10 purchases

Prevention

Subscriptions2
  • Prevention Monthly Sub$2.991 Month
  • Prevention Subscription1 Month trial$24.991 Year
One-time8
  • January 2012$3.99
  • February 2012$3.99
  • March 2012$3.99
Show 5 more
  • April 2012$3.99
  • October 2012$3.99
  • February 2013$3.99
  • June 2013$3.99
  • January 2014$3.99
1 purchases

AARP Staying Sharp

Subscriptions1
  • AARP Membership1 Year trial$20.001 Year

Questions

Is Prevention free?
Prevention is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is AARP Staying Sharp free?
AARP Staying Sharp is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Prevention or AARP Staying Sharp?
AARP Staying Sharp is rated higher. Prevention averages 4.6 out of 5 from 1.4K ratings, while AARP Staying Sharp averages 4.7 from 3K ratings.
Do Prevention or AARP Staying Sharp have ads?
AARP Staying Sharp shows ads; Prevention does not.
Which is updated more often, Prevention or AARP Staying Sharp?
Prevention ships an update every 2 months, and AARP Staying Sharp every 5 weeks. Most recently, Prevention was updated on October 2, 2026 and AARP Staying Sharp on October 3, 2026.

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